Funds and Founders

What's next for Beehiiv? In my conversation with Preeya Goenka ??, COO of Beehiiv, she shared what’s on the horizon for their fast-growing platform. → Exciting product updates: Beehiiv has a packed roadmap with new features and functionality rolling out soon. → Expanding customer base: As these updates go live, Beehiiv aims to support a broader range of publishers, advertisers, and media brands. → Building connections: Preeya emphasized the importance of forming new relationships with partners in the media and tech ecosystem to keep learning and growing. For more insights like this, check out the full episode — https://lnkd.in/e9m9bWyP #beehiiv #preeya #startupgrowth #productroadmap #founderadvice #startupjourney

How planning changes from series A to series B In my conversation with Preeya Goenka ??, COO of Beehiiv, she shared an interesting observation about planning in early-stage startups versus larger companies. → Smaller startups can course correct faster: At smaller companies, you can adapt quickly when new competitors emerge or when priorities shift. → Bigger companies stick to annual goals: Larger organizations tend to plan yearly targets and stick to them, even when unexpected changes happen. → Revenue remains the North Star: Regardless of company size, keeping revenue growth as the ultimate goal is crucial. Preeya’s takeaway? If you’re in a startup, embrace flexibility — it’s a powerful advantage in uncertain markets. For more insights like this, check out the full episode — https://lnkd.in/e9m9bWyP #startupplanning #seriesatob #beehiiv #preeya #startupadvice #foundertips #growthjourney

Red flags to watch out for when joining an early-stage startup. In my conversation with Preeya Goenka ??, COO of Beehiiv, she shared an important reminder for anyone considering joining a small startup: ?? Pay attention to the CEO. Even if you love the company’s mission or believe in the product, your experience will heavily depend on the founder’s leadership style. Here’s what to assess: ?? Work ethic: Does their pace align with your lifestyle? Misalignment can quickly lead to frustration. ?? Execution skills: Some CEOs are great visionaries but struggle with execution — a major challenge in a small team. ?? Values and personality: In a team of fewer than 20 people, your working relationship with the CEO will shape your entire experience. Her advice? Don’t overlook the founder fit — it can make or break your startup journey. Want more insights like this? Check out the full episode — https://lnkd.in/e9m9bWyP #startupadvice #earlystagestartups #beehiiv #foundertips #startupjourney #fundsandfounders

How to make an impact in your first 90 days at a startup In my conversation with Preeya Goenka ??, COO of Beehiiv, she shared key insights on how to thrive in a fast-moving startup environment. Here’s her advice for making the most impact early on: ?? Leverage your strengths: Preeya brought her email marketing expertise but quickly realized that while the industry seemed familiar, the customer base, product, and marketing approach were entirely different. ?? Embrace learning: As the startup’s chief of staff, she wore multiple hats — working across departments, picking up new skills, and adapting quickly. ?? Forget rigid processes: In a startup of just eight people, processes aren’t the priority — adaptability and proactive problem-solving are. Her biggest takeaway? Be open to learning by doing — it's the fastest way to grow and add value in a startup environment. Want more insights like this? Check out the full episode — https://lnkd.in/e9m9bWyP #StartupLife #FounderJourney #Beehiiv #Preeya #StartupAdvice #EarlyStageStartups #90DayPlan

What’s it like joining an early-stage startup? In my conversation with Preeya Goenka ??, COO of Beehiive Software, she shared her experience stepping into a startup role with no clear job description — and why that was the best thing for her growth. Here’s what she learned: ?? Embrace the chaos: Early-stage roles are rarely defined. For Preeya, that meant switching from customer support to drafting documents — and jumping into unexpected tasks daily. ?? Get your hands dirty: The startup environment forces you to learn by doing. Preeya found that taking on diverse tasks helped her grow faster than any structured role would have. ?? Focus on what matters: “Who cares what your job description says?” Preeya shared that being open to whatever needs attention is what makes startup roles so impactful. Her takeaway? In startups, flexibility isn’t just helpful — it’s essential. Want to hear more insights from Preeya? Check out the full episode https://lnkd.in/e9m9bWyP #StartupLife #FounderJourney #Beehiiv #StartupAdvice #Entrepreneurship #EarlyStageStartups

The right time to bring in an attorney for your startup. In my conversation with Dean Elazab, shared when founders should stop avoiding legal help and bring in an attorney to avoid costly mistakes. → At formation: When you’re deciding founder roles, equity splits, and vesting schedules, you need an attorney to make sure it’s set up the right way. → When outside parties get involved: As soon as you bring on investors, employees, or contractors, you need a legal framework that protects everyone. → To avoid future headaches: DIY legal setups or handshake deals might seem fine at first, but they almost always come back to haunt you. Dean’s advice is simple—don’t wait until something goes wrong to get legal support. Bringing in an attorney early helps you avoid bigger (and more expensive) problems down the road. Want to hear more legal and business lessons every founder should know? Check out the full episode—https://lnkd.in/gEGwTBa5 #startupadvice #legalforstartups #founderlessons #entrepreneurship #deanelazab #hubble #startupgrowth #businessbasics

Should founders fight for preferred stock? In my conversation with Dean Elazab, he shared a perspective most founders don’t hear—yes, you can have preferred stock, but there’s a smarter way to protect yourself. → Invest in your own company: Instead of just injecting personal cash into the business, treat it like an investment and structure it as a convertible note—that way, when the company raises, you can convert into preferred stock just like other investors. → Understand the liquidation waterfall: Even if you own most of the common stock, if the preferred shareholders get paid first and the company exits at a lower value, your common stock could end up worthless. → Protect common stockholders: As a founder, you’re not just looking out for yourself—you want to make sure the team’s equity also survives through any future exit. Dean’s advice is a must-know for any founder navigating funding rounds. Want to learn how to protect your equity the right way? Check out the full episode—https://lnkd.in/gEGwTBa5 #startupfunding #founderadvice #venturecapital #deanelazab #entrepreneurship #founderlessons #captablemanagement #startupadvice

Is raising big funding rounds worth the loss of control? In my conversation with Dean Elazab, he shared an honest take on the reality of raising venture capital—and why bigger isn’t always better for founders. → Smaller, profitable businesses can be the dream: A $2 million business with strong margins can be just as rewarding—if not more—than chasing billion-dollar valuations. → VC money comes with strings: When you take outside money, your priorities shift. There’s constant pressure to hit growth targets and deliver returns. → Loss of freedom: One founder even told Dean they wanted out of their own company because they missed the days when they could make decisions without asking for board approval. Dean’s perspective is a valuable reminder—raising big money sounds glamorous, but it’s not the only path to success. Want to hear more insights on funding and founder lessons? Check out the full episode—https://lnkd.in/gEGwTBa5 #startupfunding #venturecapital #founderlessons #entrepreneurship #deanelazab #startupadvice #scalingbusiness #founderstory

Not all term sheets are created equal. In my conversation with Dean Elazab, he shared a shocking example of how founders can get trapped by poorly negotiated term sheets—and why you should never assume a term sheet has your best interests in mind. → Lead investor or broker? One founder signed a term sheet where the so-called "lead investor" wasn’t even committing money—just shopping the deal to others. → Board seats without investment: This same term sheet guaranteed the broker a board seat, regardless of how much they actually invested. → Twisted protections: They took standard shareholder protections and rewrote them to favor the investor, even adding new clauses designed to control the company, no matter how little they invested. Dean’s advice is clear—always read the fine print, and never assume any investor document is in your favor without a thorough legal review. Want to learn how to protect yourself and negotiate smarter? Check out the full episode— https://lnkd.in/gEGwTBa5 #startupfunding #venturecapital #termheets #founderlessons #entrepreneurship #deanelazab #legalforstartups #startupadvice

Contracts, NDAs, and the reality of enforcing them! In my conversation with Dean Elazab, he shared some eye-opening advice on how founders should really think about contracts and NDAs. → Know what you're protecting: If you’re not willing to go through the legal process to enforce an NDA, what value does it really have? → Keep it simple at first: A two-page MSA might not cover every scenario, but for early-stage deals, it’s often enough. You can add clauses and protections as your business grows. → Reputation matters more than legal threats: Most business relationships rely more on trust and reputation than the fear of lawsuits—especially in industries where breaking contracts can seriously damage someone’s career. Dean’s perspective is a great reminder that contracts are important, but trust and clear communication often do more to protect your business in the long run. Want to hear more practical legal advice for founders? Check out the full episode—https://lnkd.in/gEGwTBa5 #startupadvice #founderlessons #businesscontracts #entrepreneurship #deanelazab #businessbasics #legalforstartups